Thinking of Buying or Selling, Call John (773) 851-7636 

Have you found yourself longingly peering into the yard next door to check out their new water feature only to start drawing up the blueprints for your own a week later? 

Closing costs include a variety of fees for things like the inspection and appraisal of the home, as well as fees to the lender for underwriting and originating the loan. 

3 BEDROOMS 1 BATH $995 Month   

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4 Bedrooms 2.5 Baths

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Happy Monday and Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! 

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9 TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOME SECURE FROM CHRISTMAS BURGLARS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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Yep, it’s official: Fall is here. Now is the time to finish up any last-minute late-summer maintenance projects, and get your home and yard ready for fall.

EXTERIOR PREP

[1] Fix Cracks In Concrete And Asphalt

Depending on where you live, these may be the last weeks this year when it will be warm and sunny enough to repair driveway and sidewalk cracks.

[2] Clean Out The Gutters

No one loves this job, but we all need to do it annually. A few hours of work can prevent big problems later on. And while you’re up on that ladder, visually inspect your roof for damaged shingles, flashing, or vents. 

[3] Turn Off Outdoor Plumbing

Drain outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems, and cover them to protect them from freezing weather to come.

[4] Start Composting

If you don’t already have compost bins, now is the time to make or get some. All those accumulated autumn leaves will bring you gardening gold next summer.

[5] Clean Outdoor Furniture And Gardening Tools

It may not be quite time yet to put them away, but go ahead and make sure your outdoor furniture and gardening tools are cleaned up and ready for storage over the winter.

[6] Plant Bulbs For Spring-Blooming Flowers

A joyous and beautiful sign of spring is when tulips and daffodils start popping up everywhere. Plant bulbs in October, as soon as the soil has cooled down, to reap big rewards next spring. If you’ve never planted bulbs before, select a spot in your yard that gets full sun during the day.

INTERIOR PREP

[7] Prepare Your Furnace For Winter Duty

If you didn’t already do it last spring, consider getting your furnace professionally serviced in time for the cold season. At the minimum, though, visually inspect your furnace and replace the furnace filter before turning it on for the first time.

[8] Clean The Fireplace And Chimney

Clean out the fireplace, make sure the flue is operating properly, and that doors and shields are sound. Have the chimney professionally swept if needed. Now is the time to stock up on firewood.

[9] Keep The Warm Air Inside And The Cold Air Outside

Inspect your windows and doors. Check weather stripping by opening a door, placing a piece of paper in the entryway, and closing the door. The paper should not be able to slide back and forth easily. If it does, the weather stripping isn’t doing its job. Also, now is the time to re-caulk around windows and door casings if needed.

[10] Light The Way

Bring as much light into your home as you can for the colder, darker months. To accentuate natural light, clean your windows and blinds, especially in rooms that get a lot of sunlight. Add lighting to darker spaces easily with new lamps. And consider replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs.

[11] Create a Mudroom

Even if you don’t have a dedicated mudroom in your home, now is a good time to think about organizing and stocking an entryway that will serve as a “mudroom” area for cold and wet weather. Put down an indoor/outdoor rug to protect the floor. A fun and rewarding weekend project is to build a wooden shoe rack, coat rack, or a storage bench for your entryway.

[12] Home Safety Check

Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide monitors. A good way to remember to do this is to always replace the batteries when you change the clock for “fall back.” Create a family fire escape plan, or review the one you already have. Put together an emergency preparedness kit so that you are ready for winter power outages.

SOURCE: ZILLOW

5 REASONS TO BUY A HOME THIS FALL

MORTGAGE PRE-QUALIFICATION VS. PRE-APPROVAL… WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

FALL DECORATING TIPS YOU CAN PULL OFF IN AN HOUR

WOW! Check Out These AMAZING Homes For Sale in Park Ridge! 

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Daily Tips

Case Shiller: Home prices continue to reach new highs

Home Projects with a High Return on Investment

Making The Most Of an Open House Visit

GOING GREEN? ASK QUESTIONS FIRST!

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How Does Rent-to-Own Work?

After looking for the perfect home, you’re ready to make an offer and show the seller you’re a serious candidate. When doing so, be sure to include an earnest money deposit.

Does My Spouse's Credit Score Matter?

Mistakes First-Time Homebuyers Should Avoid

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As the days go by, there are less and less days of summer left. With Labor Day just around the corner you may be planning that epic summer get together for another fun day in the sun. But before you bring out the pool floats and endless chips and salsa, take a break to get some home maintenance prep done for the upcoming season. Turns out that August is the best time to take on maintenance tasks before the temperature change.

What generation are you?

If your home gets damaged by a flood, falling tree, or other random accident, you'll want to know how to file a home insurance claim. Homeowners insurance can help you cover the costs of repairs, providing some much-needed financial relief. But before you file that claim, you'll want to know the process (and the consequences) so you can plan accordingly. Here's what you need to know about filing home insurance claims.

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"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keep you going." Jim Ryan, Olympic Track Star 

Are you looking to buy a home, but have a poor credit? We have good news for you: This July, credit reports are cleaning up big time and could help your current score.

Former President, Barack Obama made the decision that buying is better than renting. The Obama’s had been leasing their place in Washington DC and had many surprised when they decided to purchase the home at $8.1 million to officially call it home.

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Best Chicago Events June 2017

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Steadily for the past year, homes for sale in America have been falling and it looks as if the problem is getting much worse going in to spring 2017, as demands for homes are increasing.

Apartment For Rent

3 Bedroom 1 Bath - $800 month 

Life is good for #HomeSellers....Really Good~~ #RealEstate

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"Falling Down Is How We Grow. Staying Down Is How We Die." Brian Vaszily 

I-90 from I-190 to Harlem Ave. Project

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Five Housing Markets on the Verge of a Tech Boom

The hottest housing markets have one determining factor in common: employment opportunities. Cities with jobs in growing fields draw incoming residents in droves—and none is more in-demand currently than technology.

A recent survey by Modis, an IT staffing services provider, identified the housing markets on set to be transformed by technology. The top 5:

1. Chicago
2. Houston
3. Boston
4. Denver
5. Philadelphia

Fifty-one percent of those surveyed ranked Chicago as the top tech hot spot of the future. The Windy City is likely to attract younger professionals who have worked in technology 5 years or less, according to the survey.

Houston and Boston ranked second and third, respectively, with 47 percent and 43 percent of the vote. Houston is likely to attract a range of professionals, from those who have not completed a college degree to those who have worked in technology for more than 10 years. Boston, like Chicago, is likely to attract younger professionals, aged 26-34.

Denver, which has seen home prices appreciate at an above-average rate since the recession, was ranked fourth at 36 percent. Philadelphia, at 31 percent, also made the top five.

Other up-and-coming technology-driven markets, according to the survey, include Dallas, Detroit and Omaha.    

John Castelli

Keller Williams Realty Partners

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"There's a myth that time is money. In fact, time is more precious than money. It's a nonrenewable resource. Once you've spent it, and if you've spent it badly, it's gone forever." Neil A Fiore

"There are millions of people out there who faithfully make their regular mortgage payments because they don't understand, or because no one ever told them, about the benefits of pocket-change prepayments.''

-- Marc Eisenson, author of The Banker's Secret

When you apply for a mortgage, there are two basic varieties to choose from: fixed-rate or adjustable-rate. By far the most common mortgage product in the United States is the 30-year fixed-rate, and the most common adjustable-rate variety is the 5/1 ARM. So let's take a deeper look at these two types of loans and see which could be the better choice for you.

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Happy Monday! I hope you had an amazing weekend! As always I like to start the week off right with some words of motivation!

DUNNING, CHICAGO IS A NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATED ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY.

Homes For Sale in Chicago by Neighborhood

Falling in love is exhilarating. It can also be a bit scary, especially when a home has captured your heart. What if something goes wrong and you end up not spending the rest of your life with this stack of brick and mortar you're lusting after?

No matter how careful you are, some deal killers are unavoidable. Others, however, are preventable, so pay heed if you hope to keep your deal alive. 

1. Don't Mess with Your Mortgage Preapproval 

A common reason for a real estate deal to fall apart is that many homebuyers don't fully understand the mortgage process. Sure, you may get a loan preapproval, but don't think for one minute that this guarantees you will get the loan. It doesn't.

Here's what happens after you receive your preapproval letter and decide to move forward with the purchase. The lender will start your file, give you a list of paperwork required, order an appraisal and credit reports, verify your employment and income, and more.

The file is then sent to the processor who will review all of your information as well as the appraisal. He or she will then put together a package of all pertinent information to be sent to the underwriter.

The underwriter is the person who ultimately determines whether or not you are an acceptable credit risk. He or she will assess your ability to repay the loan, your credit, and the collateral used to secure the mortgage - in this case the collateral is the home. Then, just before funding the loan, the underwriter will perform what is known as a "soft pull" of your credit information to see if anything has changed.

This is the point where many borrowers run afoul. If you hope to keep your purchase alive, don't do anything - from application to closing - that might change your financial picture and sabotage your final approval. This means no shopping on credit for appliances, furniture or anything else. Don't switch jobs, fall behind on your bills, co-sign a loan for anyone, or in any way reduce the income stated on your application. 

2. Read Homeowners Association Documents Carefully 

When you purchase a home in a managed community governed by a homeowners association (HOA), you'll be given a mountain of paperwork to read and approve. Because there may be deal killers included in the fine print, it's important to get to this task immediately upon receipt of the documents.

Look for any information about liens against the property; current litigation against the HOA, the builder, or the developer; and any red flags in the HOA budget. Since these documents aren't easy to read and understand, it is worth the money you'll spend to have your attorney look them over and advise you of any potential deal killers lurking within.

While the aforementioned HOA problems could potentially derail the deal, it's better to have it happen upfront rather than when you're further along in the process. 

3. Home Inspection Problems 

All homes - even newly constructed ones - may have problems. Going into the process not fully understanding this can set you up for a failed real estate deal. Sure, you ideally want to find a home that was owned by Mr. or Mrs. Clean who conscientiously took care of it during their entire ownership, but those are few and far between, and seeking them out is unrealistic.

Set your sites on finding a home that has small, easy-to-fix problems, and don't freak out if some are worse than others. In other words, when considering making an offer, laugh at the loose doorknob but negotiate when it comes to water damage or worse.

The nitpicky homebuyer, who plans on nickel and diming the homeowner into replacing missing switch plates and dripping faucets, is the picture of a deal-breaker-in-the-making. Sure, in a buyer's market you may get away with minor demands. In a seller's market, however, there is always a cleaner offer right behind yours. 

4. Budgeting Blunders 

The real estate industry does a bang-up job of reminding homebuyers that they'll need a down payment - typically from 3 percent to 20 percent of the total loan amount - when they purchase a home. What they often fail to inform real estate consumers about are the loan's closing costs - the money you will be required to pay before the house is yours. This is most likely because closing costs are a little harder to pin down. They vary wildly and depend on the type of loan, the amount of the down payment, and a host of other factors.

Unfortunately, this lack of information frequently causes real estate deals to disintegrate. To avoid this particular problem, pay attention to all communications from your lender.

First, you will receive a form called a Loan Estimate. Look this over carefully to ensure that everything your lender agreed to is included. Pay close attention to the "Calculating Cash to Close" section, which concludes with an estimated cost to close the loan. Remember, this is an estimate and the amount may go higher or lower in the end. Speak with the lender if you find any problems here, especially if it will be impossible for you to come up with this money.

Just before closing you will receive the "Closing Disclosure," which is quite similar to the estimate, but these figures are final. Again, review the "Cash to Close" figure.

By and large, real estate deals conclude successfully. Typically, it all comes down to the experience of your agent. Choose wisely and you'll avoid the common pitfalls that can derail transactions. For a smooth, low-stress real estate transaction, slow down, keep your expectations realistic and heed the advice of your real estate agent or attorney.

Paso 1 en el proceso de compra comienza con el agente y el comprador revisar las condiciones actuales del mercado, así como lo que el comprador quiere y necesita en su nuevo hogar.

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Real Estate is a great financial investment!

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SPECIAL REPORT

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Preparing Your Home to be SOLD!!

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"DISCIPLINE: The One Thing Necessary To Achieve Any Goal Worth Having"

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Let me help you start a successful career as a Keller Williams agent!

How to Buy a Home in Chicago. Articles on the Real Estate Process in Chicago. 

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Here are 4 quick tips for Halloween safety.

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